Friction-clutch.



YRS-w 55% A. LIN'T. FRIGTION environ.- APPL-ICATION FILED APB. 2, 1908.

Patented Deo. 7, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. LINT. PIIIcTIoN'cLUTeH.. APPLICATION FILED APR. 2. 190s.

l Y Y Patented Dea?, 1909. 2 6 z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

t I EN TOR.

m0@ ATTORNEY.

enten srafrns iermvr onirica.

AMOS LINT, OF DAYTON, O-IIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO DAVID P. CLARK, OFDAYTON, OHIO.

FRICTION-CLUTCH.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that l, Anios LiN'r, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in F riction-Clutches, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to clutches and particularly to friction clutches,adapted for use with light running machinery, but capable of beingconstructed of proportions suitable for heavy work.

The object of the invention is to greatly simplify the construction aswell as the means and mode of operation of such devices whereby theywill not only be cheapened in construction but will be rendered moreeflicient in operation, easily operated, and unlikely to get out ofrepair.

A further primary object is to provide a clutch which will be compact,adapted to use on small machines where but limited room I is available,and in which the frictional engagement of the clutch parts will be in aplane common with the application of power, and furthermore one adaptedto be engaged at any point of rotation with a minimum movement of theparts.

Tith the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will morefully appear from the specification, the invention consists of themeans, mechanism, construction, and mode of operation or theirequivalents, hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

ln the drawings Figure 1 is an end elevation ofthe assembled device.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the assembled clutch. Figs. 3and l are detail end views of the clutch parts in inoperative andoperated positions. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the oscillatoryoperating rod. Fig. G is a longitudinal sectional view of a modied formof clutch, embodying similar features of the invention. Figs. 7 and 8are respectively a cross sectional view of the parts, and a detailperspective view of the sleeve, employed in the construction shown inFig. G. Fig. 9 is a further modification of the clutch mechanism, andFig. 10 is a perspective view of the clutch or friction sleeve employedin the constructions shown in Figs. 2 and 9. Fig. 11 is an end view ofthe assembled parts, eing the side opposite the operating cone, andshowing la spring for Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 2, 1908.

Patented Dec. 7, '1909.

Serial No. 424,697.

returning the oscillatory operating rod to normal.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to sheet one thereof, l is theshaft, 2 is a pulley of which 3 is the hub having a smooth straight boreconcentric with the rim, and also with the shaft 1. lt is obvious thatin place of the pulley 2 a gear wheel, pinion or other machine part maybe substituted.

Two collars -lt and 5 are secured to the shaft 1 by set screws 6, orother' means, whereby they will revolve with the shaft. The collars tand 5 are located on opposite sides of the pulley 2 and limit thelateral movement thereof. Located in the smooth bore of the hub 3 andsurrounding the shaft 1 intermediate the collars 4t and 5 is a sleeve 7having a longitudinal slot therein, as at 8. The formation of the sleeve7 is best shown in Fig. 10. The sleeve 7 forms a journal on which thepulley 2 normally rotates freely. An expanding rod 9 extends throughoutthe slot 8 of the sleeve 7, and is formed with trunnions or bearings 10and 1l journaled in the respective collars l and 5. That portion of theexpanding-rod within the slot 8 is preferably non-circular in crosssection, and is so mounted that the rocking or oscillation of the rodabout its longitudinal axis will cause the same to engage the adjacentedges of the split sleeve 7 and expand that sleeve into frictionalengagement with the bore or bearing surface of the hub 3. A rock arm 12is provided whereby the expanding-rod 9 may be oscillated lin itsbearings. 'lhe arm 12 may be formed independent of the rod 9 andattached thereto, but is `preferably formed integral therewith bybending a portion of the rod projecting beyond the collar 4 atsubstantially right angles to the main portion, as shown in thedrawings. A cone 13 longitudinally movable on the shaft 1, and operatedin the usual manner is provided to oscillate the rod 9 by engagementwith the arm 12.

Vhile the operation of the parts may be by direct contact of the cone 1Sand arm 12, a head 14 is preferably formed on the arm 12, through whichextends an adjustable stud 15, to be engaged by the cone 13 to operatethe parts.

The normal position of the parts is shown in Fig. 3, the expanding-rod 9being shown in normal position within the slot 8 of the sleeve 7, andthe pulley 2 free to rotate on the sleeve 7. Upon oscillation of the rod9 by the engagement of the cone 13 with the arm 12, through the stud111, the rod 9 by.

bearing upon the adjacent sides of the slot 8 will expand the sleeve 7to frictionally engage the interior of the bore of the hub 3, wherebythe pulley, sleeve and shaft will rotate in unison. r1`he drivingengagement between the driving and driven members comprises thefrictional engagement of the expanded sleeve 7 with the interior of thehub 3, the engagement of the sleeve 7 with the ro'd 9, which isjournaled in the collars l and 5 secured by the set screws 6 upon thevshaft 1. The sleeve 7 is free upon the shaft 1 except through theengagement with the rod 9. W hen operated the sleeve 7 will frictionallyengage the hub 3 throughout Substantially the entire inner peripherythereof, except the space intermediate the edges of the slot 8. 'Theconstruction described affords a maximum amount of frictional surface,thereby requiring but slight pressure to maintain the frictionalengagement of the parts, furthermore the frictional engagement is in adirect or common plane with the pull ofthe driver, and extendsthroughout the full length of the hub 3.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is illustrated a modification, in which the shaft 1,the pulley 2 and hub 3, the expanding-rod 9, arm 12 and cone 13 are allconstructed as before described. rIlhe variation of the structurerelates to the sleeve on which the pulley is mounted, and which isillustrated in Fig. 8. The sleeve 15 is mounted on the shaft 1, andforms the journal for the pulley. Adjacent to one end of the sleeve 15is an integral flange or collar 16, adapted to limit the lateralmovement of the pulley in one direction. In the reduced or journalportion of the sleeve 15 are two transverse slots or cuts 17 extendingpartly around the sleeve, but leaving a portion of the sleeveintermediate the ends of the cut 17 integral as at 18. The transversecuts 17 are connected by a slot 19 extending longitudinally in saidsleeve, at a point substantially opposite the uncut portion 1S, althoughnot necessarily so located. The combination of the transverse cuts 17and the longitudinal slot 19 forms in the journal portion of the sleevetwo peripheral tongues 20 adapted to be expanded within the hub of thepulley, by the oscillation of the expanding-rod 9 which extends throughthe longitudinal slot 19 and is provided with bearings 21 in the uncutportion 22 of the sleeve, and a bearing 23 in the flange portion 16, asindicated. A removable collar 24 is secured on the portion 22 of thesleeve by set screws 25 which preferably extend through the sleeve 15into engagement with the shaft 1.

Similar set screws extend through the flange 16 into engagement with theshaft to secure the sleeve thereon. It is obvious that the sleeve mightbe secured upon the shaft by a key or other ordinary means. Upon theoscillation of the expanding-rod 9 by the action of the cone 13 beforedescribed, the peripheral tongues will be forced outward, or the sleeveexpanded, to frictionally engage the interior of the hub 3 of thepulley. While the frictional engagement will not in this case extendentirely around the inner periphery of the hub, the engagement will beupon a very considerable surface, and will be throughout the full lengthof the hub.

rIhe modification shown in Fig. 9 is substantially a combinationof thetwo structures before mentioned. rllhe shaft, pulley, oscillating rodand operating' means are the same as before described. Mounted on theshaft is a sleeve, comprising a reduced portion or main portion 26 andan integral flange 27. In shape the sleeve is the same as employed inthe structure of Fig. 6 and illustrated in Fig. 8, except it is a plainsleeve without the cuts and slot 17 and 19. The sleeve is secured uponthe shaft by setscrews 23. Mounted on the sleeve and within the hub ofthe pulley, for which it forms a journal, is an expansible sleeve 29,similar to that employed in the structure lof Fig. 1,

and illustrated in Fig. 10. Secured to the i sleeve 26 beyond the hub ofthe pulley is a collar 30, held in place by set screws 31 whichpreferably project through the sleeve 2G into the shaft 1. Theexpanding-rod 9 is journaled in the flange portion 27 0f the sleeve andthe collar 30, as indicated in Fig. 9, and is operated in the samemanner as before described. Upon oscillation of the expanding-rod 9,which extends through the slot S of the expansible sleeve, said sleeveis expanded to frictionally engage the interior surface of the hub asdescribed, in connection with Fig. 1. rIhe advantages of themodifications Figs. 6 and 9 over the structure of Fig. 1 is that they.may be assembled in the factory at the time of manufacture, and adjustedto the shaft in an assembled condition, whereas the structure of Fig. 1must be assembled at the time of adjustment to the shaft.

In each of the structures described, a pin or cotter 32 islocated in theextremity of the rod 12 to prevent longitudinal movement of the rod.However in place of the cotter or pin, 32 a piece of spring wire 33 ispreferably projected through the rod as best shown in Fig. 11, to limitthe movement thereof, the said spring wire being yunder tension, andengaging a pin 34 in the supporting collar, whereby the spring will tendto return the rod 9 to normal position, and

hold it so, after the arm 12 has been disengaged by the cone 13.Ordinarily the use of this returning spring will not be necessary,however if the clutch happens to stop in certain positions, the weightof the arm 12 will tend to oscillate the rod 9, to cause a slightfrictional engagement of the parts, which while not suflicient to form adriving connection, might be sufficient to cause undue wear upon theparts.

It will be noted that in each of the above described constructions, thefrictional engagement of the parts is in. a common plane with the pullof the driver, and that in each instance the engagement is throughoutsubstantially the full extent of the hub, although for special purposesthe extent might be limited to less than the length of the hub. Thisconstruction renders the clutch very compact, and permits its use invery limited space. rIhe structure is not dependent on any one point ofengagement with the hub, nor any number of definite points, but may beengaged with the hub at anyA point of the rotation. The clutch featuresare further capable of being fitted to any existing pulley or gear.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusproduced a device of the character described, possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification, in its form, proportion,detail construction, and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a friction clutch, the combination, with driving and drivenmembers, one of said members having a hub, and a journal, forming thesole support for said hub, comprising a sleeve having a longitudinalslot therein, of an expanding-rod rotatably supported in said slot, andmeans for rocking said rod about its longitudinal axis, thereby causingsaid rod to engage the adjacent edges of said sleeve and expand saidsleeve into frictional engagement with said hub.

2. In a friction clutch, the combination, with driving and drivenmembers, one of said members having a hub, and a journal, forming thesole support for said hub, comprising a sleeve having a longitudinalslot therein, of an expanding-rod rotatably supported in said slot,bearings for said rod at the opposite ends of said slot, and means forrocking said rod about its longitudinal axis, thereby causing said rodto engage the adjacent edges of said sleeve and expand said sleeve intofrictional engagement with said hub;

In a frictional clutch, the combination, with driving and drivenmembers, one of said members having a hub, and' a journal, forming thesole support for said hub, comprising a sleeve having a longitudinalslot therein, of an expanding-rod rotatably supported in said slot,bearings for said rod at the opposite ends of said slot, a rock armcarried by said rod beyond one of said bearings, and a member having aninclined surface slidably mounted near one end of said rod and adaptedto engage said rock arm and move said rod about its longitudinal axis.

In a friction clutch, the combination, with a shaft, a sleeve mounted onsaid shaft and having a longitudinal slot, a hub mounted solely uponsaid sleeve and rotatable relatively to said shaft, and bearingsarranged at the opposite ends of said sleeve, of an expanding-rodjournaled in said bearings and supported within said slot, and means formoving said rod about its longitudinal axis.

In a friction clutch, the combination, with a shaft, a sleeve mounted onsaid shaft and having a longitudinal slot, a hub .mounted solely uponsaid sleeve and rotatable relatively to said shaft, and bearingsarranged at the opposite ends of said sleeve, of an expanding-rodjournaled in said bearings and supported within said slot, said rodextending beyond one of said bearings and having that portion extendingbeyond said bearing bent at an angle to the body portion thereof to forma rock arm, and a cone slidably mounted on said shaft and adapted toactuate said rock arm to move said expanding rod about its longitudinalaxis.

6. In a friction clutch, the combination, with a. shaft, a hubencircling said shaft, a split sleeve interposed between said hub andsaid shaft and forming a journal for said hub, and collars secured tosaid shaft at. the opposite ends of said sleeve and having bearingapertures therein, of an expanding-rod j ournaled in said bearingapertures and supported between the adjacent edges of said split sleeve,and means for oscillating said rod to expand said split sleeve intoengagement with said hub.

7. In a friction clutch, the combination, with a shaft, a hub encirclingsaid shaft, and a sleeve interposed between said shaft and said hub,said sleeve having parallel circumferential slots extending about aportion of its circumference, and a longitudinal slot connecting saidcircumferential slots at points between their ends, of an expandingrodjournaled in those portions of said sleeve lying outside of saidcircumferential slots and extending through said longitudinal slot, andmeans for moving said expandingrod about its longitudinal axis.

S. In a friction clutch, the combination, with a shaft, a sleeve mountedon said shaft and having a longitudinal slot, a hub supported upon saidsleeve and rotatable rela- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto tivelyto said shaft, bearings arranged at set my hand this 30th day of MarchA. D. 10 the opposite enolls of said sleeve, an expand- 1908.

ine-rod journa ed in said bearings, and

megane for actuating Said rod, of a resilient AMOS LINT' member rigidlysecured at one end to said Witnesses:

expanding-rod and rigidly connected at the HARRY F. NOLAN,

other end to said sleeve. FRANK L. /VALKER.

